American Chemical Society Scholars Program

The ACS Scholars Program is open to:

• U.S. citizens or a legal permanent U.S. residents (please inquire via email if you have questions regarding asylum or DACA status)
• African descent or Black, Hispanic or Latina/Latino/Latinx, or Indigenous (e.g. Native American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Alaskan Native) (please see below for more details)
• Graduating high school seniors or college freshmen, sophomores or juniors. Seniors can apply for their fifth year.
• Those intending to major or are already majoring in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, chemical technology, or another chemistry-related science AND planning to pursue a career in a chemistry-related science as well (please see below for more details)
• Full-time students at a high school or an accredited college, university, or community college
• Those demonstrating high academic achievement in chemistry or science (Grade Point Average 3.0 or higher)

In the application you should select the race/ethnicity that you MOST identify with; use the “Other” field to provide more context (for example your tribe, family’s country of origin if you know it, or other races you are mixed with)

Hispanic or Latina/Latino/Latinx — A person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American culture or origin, regardless of race

Indigenous — A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North America, and who maintains cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community recognition

Native Hawaiian or Native Pacific Islander — A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands that are U.S. territories

African decent or Black — A person having origins in any of the black, Indigenous, racial groups of Africa

More than one race – A person having origins in more than one of the above racial categories.

Definitions have been adapted from the NSF National Center for Science and Engineering Statistical Tables NSF 15-321 published in May 2015 and Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering, NSF 17-310 published in January 2017.

Data on graduation rates can be found at the National Science Foundation website (https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/degreerecipients/).  (Science and Engineering Degrees, by Race/Ethnicity of Recipients: 2002-12; Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 15-321 | May 2015).

Examples of eligible majors:

• Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Chemical Engineering
• Chemical Technology
• Materials Science
• Petroleum Engineering
• Environmental Science/Engineering (chemistry-based)*
• Biomedical Engineering (chemistry-based)*
• Forensic Science/Chemistry
• Toxicology
• Food Science (not nutrition)
• Paper and Pulp Technology
• Pharmaceutical Chemistry
• Agricultural Chemistry
• Nanotechnology or Nano Science
• Ceramic Science / Chemistry / Technology
• Industrial Chemistry

Examples of eligible career goals:

• Chemist
• Biochemist
• Chemical Engineer
• Chemical Technician
• Forensic Chemist / Investigator
• Chemistry / Biochemistry / Chemical Engineering Teacher / Professor
• Patent Lawyer
• Science Journalist
• MD/PhD (research physician)**
• **Please note that students intending to enter Pre-Med programs or pursuing a degree in Pharmacy or Nursing are NOT eligible for this scholarship.
• *Majors that are starred or otherwise not listed above should have the four following core chemistry courses included in your course curriculum (required coursework for your major) in order for it to be approved. Please submit a copy of your course curriculum via email to scholars@acs.org after you have started or submitted your online application:
• General Chemistry (sometimes referred to as beginner Inorganic Chemistry)
• Organic Chemistry
• Physical Chemistry (or Thermodynamics)
• Analytical Chemistry (or Quantitative Analysis)